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The document titled "Correction to: Monthly gridded precipitation databases performance evaluation in North Patagonia, Argentina" in Theoretical & Applied Climatology addresses errors in the numbering of figures in the original article. Figures 3-7 were incorrectly numbered, with the correct order now specified. The corrected figures provide visual representations of Standardized Mean Error, Standardized Root Mean Square Error, correlation, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic for different datasets in North Patagonia, Argentina. The correction was made by Santiago I. Hurtado, Daiana V. Perri, Martin Calianno, Valeria L. Martin-Albarracin, and Marcos H. Easdale. [Extracted from the article]

Precipitation records in North Patagonia (Argentina) are scarce, which hinders climate research. This research aims to assess the performance of four novel local monthly datasets together with three commonly used global datasets for North Patagonia to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each one. First, four different local observed-interpolated datasets were built, two using the Angular Distance Weighted (ADW) method and two using ordinary Kriging. In addition, the global datasets CRU, ERA5-Land, and GPCC were evaluated. To assess the performance of the precipitation datasets, four metrics were used to evaluate the systematic errors (bias), the mean errors, the representation of time variations, and the representation of the probability density function. The ERA5-Land with a correction factor stands out as the best global dataset and it also presents the overall best representation of the probability density function (PDF). The built dataset with ADW using a precipitation index presents the overall best performance, especially in representing the time variations. Even though ADW presents an overall better performance, ERA5-Land with a correction factor presents a better performance in terms of errors in the southern region (south of 40°S). The novel dataset is freely available through the link provided in the conclusions section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drier conditions have been observed in Northern Patagonia, Argentina, in the last decades, affecting the pastoralism production system. In this context, two laws were promoted to foster goat and sheep production. This research investigated the hydro-climatic changes and the governmental initiatives, within these two laws, that follow them with special emphasis on climate hazard responses and their relationship with coping or adaptation strategies. A climatic shift was found as a tipping point in the climatic regime to drier conditions in 2006/7. This is observed in the annual mean streamflow of the Neuquén river which presented a 40% drop. Governmental funds were mostly oriented to tackle water-bonded problems given the lack of water and the remaining budget was mainly destined to infrastructure. This was done under the belief of drought events rather than a climatic shift. Distinguishing between them is a key factor for risk management stakeholders, since a drought must be mitigated with coping strategies, whereas a climate shift implies a long-lasting adaptation to a new reality. Even though they were not initially designed with consideration for climate change, some of these measures favor the adaptation process to this new drier scenario. Thus, many of the measures aimed to mitigate the structural vulnerabilities of the pastoral system in the region. This new scenario has triggered the need for a compulsory broad change in the socio-productive pastoral system, which might take more time than the assimilation of the negative impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of monitoring and early warning tools for environmental and agricultural applications is highly restricted in scarce climate data regions. In particular, precipitation data is a key input for several environmental monitoring tools on which decision-makers rely. However, precipitation records are collected by rain gauge stations, but these are frequently inhomogeneous and scarce in some regions of the world, especially in South America and Africa. In such cases, the use of alternative precipitation data sources is necessary to correctly assess its spatial and temporal variations. Therefore, we evaluate the possibility of using the ERA5 data with different automatic enhancement methods. Three adjustment approaches were evaluated in Northern Patagonia, which is an example of a scarce data area: (1) modifying the ERA5 daily data with three different regression models, one depending on lag and lead days, a distributed lag model, and a simple linear regression model, (2) detecting the lower time window of precipitation accumulation that can represent the observed precipitation variations, and (3) determining a window size and cut-off frequency of a low-pass filter to have data that represent well the low-frequency variation. The lag-distributed models improved the ERA5 data precipitation. A combination of approaches 1 and 2 showed the best performance for enhancing the ERA5 precipitation data, with a minimum of 6-day time window accumulation. However, this enhanced performance is not spatially homogeneous and it is poor in the northeastern region. This tool allows the use of data from ERA5 in sites where daily precipitation input data is scarce or inaccurate for different environmental and agricultural applications aimed at offering permanent and updated information, such as monitoring drought, flood, wildfire risk, or pest outbreaks. These applications are key to reducing ecosystem, production, and infrastructure loss in regions where climate data is a strong restriction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, Northern Patagonia (Argentina) has shown linear trends to drier conditions in distinct hydrological variables. Therefore, North Patagonia climate changes were studied using streamflow data of Neuquén and Chubut rivers, together with temperature and precipitation data. A climate shift around 2006–2008 towards warmer and drier conditions was identified. A precipitation decline (~ 20%) was observed, being the main reduction in the early Austral winter (May–July). Consequently, a decrease in the streamflows of Chubut (27.8%) and Neuquén (40.3%) rivers was found for the 2007–2021 period, when compared to the 1980–2006 period. Most of the region recorded an increase of the mean temperature of at least 0.5 °C, leading to a greater water loss via evapotranspiration. Temperature changes were greater in the Austral summer-autumn season (January-May) with warming up to 1.5 °C. After 2007, both rivers exhibited their second streamflow peak earlier, probably due to accelerated melting caused by the warmer conditions. This implies that the spring streamflow peak decreased earlier and might not be able to sustain the water demands in the summer-autumn, which should be the focus for water management adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful to human health due to their carcinogenicity and toxicity. In addition, they are responsible for the generation of secondary atmospheric pollutants. Catalytic oxidation is an effective alternative for the reduction of these types of emissions. In this context, Ce−Mn oxides have been reported as excellent catalyst because of their low cost, redox capacity, and oxygen mobility. To date, the best Ce−Mn oxide catalysts have been produced using hydrothermal synthesis. In the present work, we propose a novel, facile, environmental‐friendly, and low‐cost sonochemical method for the synthesis of Mn−Ce oxides with different Ce loadings. The new materials were characterized, and catalytic activity was measured in toluene oxidation reactions. Results demonstrated that, despite the low surface area of Mn−Ce oxides prepared by sonochemical method, these samples showed a superior catalytic activity with T90 values of 266 °C. This performance was the result of the higher Mn4+ content, as well as improved reducibility and activation of Olat species as compared to that of hydrothermally synthesized catalysts. However, the interaction between Mn2O3 and MnO2 in the hydrothermally synthesized catalysts resulted in a greater stability in long‐term oxidation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore how risk preferences affect pro-social behavior under uncertainty. We analyze a modified dictator game in which the dictator can, by reducing her own sure payoff, increase the odds that an unknown recipient wins a lottery. We first augment a standard social preferences model with reference-dependent risk attitudes and then test the model's predictions for the dictator's giving behavior using a laboratory experiment. Consistent with the predictions of the model, we find that the relationship between giving behavior and a giver's loss aversion is mediated by the strength of the giver's pro-social preferences. Among more (less) pro-social dictators, an increase in loss aversion increases (decreases) the likelihood that a dictator contributes to a recipient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this research was to study the adsorptive capacity of an organophilic clay for the removal of textile dye Nylosan blue B113 and its further application in real textile effluent (RTE) treatment. The used clay known as Bofe was originated in the township of Boa Vista, State of Paraíba, Northeast of Brazil. Initially, the material was dried and powdered. Subsequently, the organophilic clay was synthesized by insertion of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. Furthermore, the clay was characterized using the following analyses: cation exchange capacity (CEC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), surface area analysis, and pH of point of zero charge (pHpzc). Then, batch adsorption systems were performed along with equilibrium/kinetic/thermodynamic studies. At last, keeping the same weight/volume ratio, a solution of real textile effluent was treated. Results showed CEC of 54.40 mmol/100g, lamellar expansion from 1.69 to 2.01 nm, maximum adsorptive capacity of 50 mg.g-1, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 74% (RTE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation anomalies over subtropical Argentina in eastern subtropical South America (ESSA) show significant signatures of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during the SONDJ (from September to January) season. The correlation maps between seasonal precipitation anomalies and the C‐index show a dipole structure with positive correlation over eastern ESSA and negative over South American convergence zone. Based on principal component analysis, precipitation anomalies within the SONDJ season during ENSO events were discriminated into three categories typical, atypical and nontypical, regarding their precipitation response. Typical (atypical) stands for precipitation anomalies similar (inverse) in comparison to the linear expected anomalies for El Niño or La Niña events. In the period 1979–2016, five (five) typical seasons, two (zero) atypical seasons and six (six) nontypical seasons were recorded under El Niño (La Niña) events. During typical SONDJ seasons under El Niño, precipitation over ESSA is mainly modulated by regional tropospheric circulation anomalies induced by quasi‐stationary Rossby wave propagation from the western South Pacific towards South America. The precipitation anomalies during the two atypical SONDJ seasons in El Niño were overall partly owing to shifts of the sea surface temperature (SST) gradient in the equatorial Pacific, and changes in the Atlantic basin SST anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A 30-item confrontation naming test was developed in Argentina for Spanish speakers, The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT). The Boston Naming Test is an established confrontation naming task in the United States. Researchers have used the Boston Naming Test to identify individuals with different clinical pathologies (e.g., Alzheimer's disease). The current literature on how Spanish speakers across various countries perform on confrontational naming tasks is limited. To our knowledge, one study investigated CNT performance across three Spanish-speaking countries (i.e., Argentina, Mexico, and Guatemala). Investigators found that the Guatemalan group underperformed on the CNT compared to the Argentine and Mexican groups. The purpose of this study was to extend the current literature and investigate CNT performance across five Spanish-speaking countries (i.e., Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, United States). We predicted that the Argentine group would outperform the other Spanish-speaking countries. Participants and Methods: The present study sample consisted of 502 neurologically and psychologically healthy participants with a mean age of 29.06 (SD = 13.41) with 14.75 years of education completed (SD = 3.01). Participants were divided into five different groups based on their country of birth and current country residency (i.e., United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, & Colombia). All participants consented to voluntary participation and completed the CNT and a comprehensive background questionnaire in Spanish. The CNT consisted of 30 black and white line drawings, ranging from easy to hard in difficulty. An ANCOVA, controlling for gender, education, and age, was used to evaluate CNT performance between the five Spanish-speaking country groups. Meanwhile, a Bonferroni post-hoc test was utilized to evaluate the significant differences between Spanish-speaking groups. We used a threshold of p <.05 for statistical significance. Results: Results revealed significant group differences between the five Spanish speaking groups on the CNT, p =.000, np2 =.48. Bonferroni post-hoc test revealed that the United States group significantly underperformed on the CNT compared to all the Spanish-speaking groups. Next, we found the Guatemalan group underperformed on the CNT compared to the Argentinian, Mexican, and Colombian groups. Additionally, we found the Argentinian group outperformed the Mexican, Guatemalan, and United States groups on the CNT. No significant differences were found between the Argentinian group and Colombian group or the Mexican group and Colombian group on the CNT. Conclusions: As predicted, the Argentinian group outperformed all the Spanish-speaking groups on the CNT except the Colombian group. Additionally, we found that the United States group underperformed on the CNT compared to all the Spanish-speaking groups. A possible explanation is that Spanish is not the official language in the United States compared to the rest of the Spanish-speaking groups. Meanwhile, a possible reason why the Argentinian and Colombian groups demonstrated better CNT performances might have been that it was less culturally sensitive than the United States, Mexican, and Guatemalan groups. Further analysis is needed with bigger sample sizes across other Spanish-speaking countries (e.g., Costa Rica, Chile) to evaluate what variables, if any, are influencing CNT performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A commonly used confrontation naming task used in the United States is The Boston Naming Test (BNT). Performance differences has been found in Caucasian and ethnic minorities on the BNT. The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontation naming task developed in Argentina. Past research has shown acculturation levels can influence cognitive performance. Furthermore, one study evaluated geriatric gender differences on CNT performance in Spanish. Researchers reported that older male participants outperformed female participants on the CNT. To our knowledge, researchers have not evaluated ethnic differences on the CNT using a geriatric sample. The purpose of the present study was to examined CNT performance and acculturation in a Latinx and Caucasian geriatric sample. It was predicted the Caucasian group would outperform the Latinx group on the CNT. Moreover, the Caucasian group would report higher acculturation levels on the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS) compared to the Latinx group. Participants and Methods: The sample consisted of 9 Latinx and 11 Caucasian participants with a mean age of 66.80 (SD =6.10), with an average of 14.30 (SD = 2.00) years of education. All participants were neurologically and psychologically healthy and completed the CNT and the AMAS in English. Acculturation was measured via the AMAS English subscales (i.e., English Language, United States. Identity, United States, Competency). A series of ANCOVAs, controlling for years of education completed and gender, was used to evaluate CNT performance and acculturation. Results: The ethnic groups were not well demographically matched (i.e., years of education and gender).We found that the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on CNT performance p =.012, ηp 2 =.34. Furthermore, the Caucasian group reported higher acculturation levels (i.e., English Language, United States, Identity, United States, Competency) compared to the Latinx group p's <.05, ηps2 =.42-.64. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate CNT performance between ethnic groups with a geriatric sample. As expected the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on the CNT. Also, as expected the Caucasian group reported higher English acculturation levels compared to the Latinx group. Our findings are consistent with past studies showing ethnic differences on confrontational naming performance (i.e., The Boston Naming Test), favoring Caucasians. A possible explanation for group differences could have been linguistic factors (e.g., speaking multiple languages) in our Latinx group. Therefore, since our Latinx group reported lower levels of English Language, United States identity, and United States competency the Latinx group assimilation towards United States culture might of influence their CNT performance. Future studies with different ethnic groups (e.g., African-Americans) and a larger sample size should examine if ethnic differences continue to cross-validate in a geriatric sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal influence of the phases of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and of Southern Annular Mode (SAM) on precipitation over eastern Patagonia is examined. Also, their impact in generating persistent daily easterly moisture flux leading to daily precipitation events. The significant signatures of the drivers on precipitation are found in March–April–May (MAM), June–July–August (JJA) for ENSO and November–December–January (NDJ) for SAM. Over the east coast, precipitation is mainly favoured owing to an overall growth of the seasonal mean number of precipitation days (~30%) by central Niño in JJA and by negative SAM phase in NDJ, and growth of the frequency of persistent events of daily westward moisture flux (~90%) by eastern Niña in MAM. A great spatial variability shapes the anomalies. Evidence is shown for weakened seasonal westerlies linked to Eastern Pacific Niño in MAM. Enhanced daily easterlies with net daily westward moisture flux in the region lead to strong daily precipitation. Growth in precipitation intensity in the northeast coast is also associated with Eastern Pacific Niño in MAM. In the interior lands, south of 45°S, westward moisture flux is increased up to ~200% by negative SAM phase in NDJ. The nature of extratropical low‐frequency transient eddies travelling over the South Pacific will influence the frequency and intensity of daily local precipitation as well as the persistent westward flux during ENSO events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The microwave induced plasmas have been successfully used as an excitation source in atomic emission and mass spectrometry for the analytical determination of substances. In this work a study of the influence of the thermodynamic equilibrium state over the capacity of sample excitation of an argon plasma flame sustained by a surface wave at atmospheric pressure is presented. The state of the thermodynamic equilibrium in the discharge is determined by the relation between its temperatures and densities. The values of these parameters depend on the energy available in the discharge, which is also responsible for the excitation of the samples introduced into the plasma. We have compared the behavior of two characteristic parameters of plasma (electron density and temperature) and of the ArT level population with the microwave power. The results have shown that the values of these parameters and populations had a tendency to remain constant for microwave powers above a certain value. Thus, from 100 W only a part of the energy injected into the discharge is absorbed in the plasma and the plasma equilibrium state is not consequently modified. This behavior is the same as that found for atomic lines of both halogens and iron introduced as samples into the plasma and seems to show that if the plasma is close to thermodynamic equilibrium the excitation of the samples is favored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Professor Nagtegaal has already highlighted that lymph nodes are probably not responsible for the development of liver metastases. If they are not, then is there another mechanism? Professor Haboubi addresses the question of extranodal deposits – their frequency and their importance in the development of metastatic disease. The experts review the evidence and discuss whether this information will alter treatment decisions and staging systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The traditional view of progression of disease in cancer is the sequential spread of tumour to locoregional lymph nodes and then to distant metastases. However, this view may need to be challenged and modern pathology techniques such as immunohistochemistry and tumour profiling can provide us with a greater insight into the pathways and mechanisms of distant spread. Professor Nagtegaal discusses the evidence for reconsidering the current paradigm and reflects on the need for further investigation into mechanisms of distant metastatic spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Reasons for performing study: Lidocaine and ketamine are administered to horses as a constant rate infusion (CRI) during inhalation anaesthesia to reduce anaesthetic requirements. Morphine decreases the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in some domestic animals; when administered as a CRI in horses, morphine does not promote haemodynamic and ventilatory changes and exerts a positive effect on recovery. Isoflurane-sparing effect of lidocaine, ketamine and morphine coadministration has been evaluated in small animals but not in horses. Objectives: To determine the reduction in isoflurane MAC produced by a CRI of lidocaine and ketamine, with or without morphine. Hypothesis: Addition of morphine to a lidocaine-ketamine infusion reduces isoflurane requirement and morphine does not impair the anaesthetic recovery of horses. Methods: Six healthy adult horses were anaesthetised 3 times with xylazine (1.1 mg/kg bwt i.v.), ketamine (3 mg/kg bwt i.v.) and isoflurane and received a CRI of lidocaine-ketamine (LK), morphine-lidocaine-ketamine (MLK) or saline (CTL). The loading doses of morphine and lidocaine were 0.15 mg/kg bwt i.v and 2 mg/kg bwt i.v. followed by a CRI at 0.1 mg/kg bwt/h and 3 mg/kg bwt/h, respectively. Ketamine was given as a CRI at 3 mg/kg bwt/h. Changes in MAC characterised the anaesthetic-sparing effect of the drug infusions under study and quality of recovery was assessed using a scoring system. Results: Mean isoflurane MAC (mean ± s.d.) in the CTL, LK and MLK groups was 1.25 ± 0.14%, 0.64 ± 0.20% and 0.59 ± 0.14%, respectively, with MAC reduction in the LK and MLK groups being 49 and 53% (P<0.001), respectively. No significant differences were observed between groups in recovery from anaesthesia. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Administration of lidocaine and ketamine via CRI decreases isoflurane requirements. Coadministration of morphine does not provide further reduction in anaesthetic requirements and does not impair recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurotrophins acting through Trk signal-transducing receptors play essential roles in the nervous system, and probably in some non-neuronal tissues. In the present study, we used RT-PCR, Western-blot and immunohistochemistry to investigate the occurrence and cellular localization of TrkB in the mouse liver, from newborns to 6 months. Furthermore, the structure of the liver in mice carrying a mutation in the trkB gene, resulting in a non-functional protein, was studied. The analysis of the DNA sequence showed that hepatic trkB gene is identical to the cerebral one, and TrkB mRNA and TrkB full-length protein (145 kDa) were detected at all the ages sampled. Immunohistochemistry revealed age-dependent changes in the pattern of TrkB expression. From 0 to 15 days, the TrkB was detected in morphologically and immunohistochemically identified monocyte-macrophage-dendric cells scattered throughout the organ, while in animals 3- and 6-months-old it was restricted to nerve fibres. Interestingly, there was a parallelism between TrkB expression by monocyte-macrophage-dendric cells and the presence of hepatic erythroblastic islands. In agreement with a possible role of TrkB on hepatic haematopoiesis, the liver of 15 days old TrkB (-/-) mice still contained erythroblastic islands, whereas they were absent in the wild-type littermates. Another striking finding was the absence of nerve profiles in the TrkB (-/-) animals. All together, present results support the role of TrkB in the murine liver in maintaining the innervation of the organ, and more importantly throughout an unknown mechanism in controlling the hepatic haematopoietic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas it is nowadays clear that neurotrophins are involved in the regulation of various aspects of the functioning of immune system, knowledge of their actual immunomodulatory roles is still fragmentary and incomplete. In this respect, knock-out mouse models remain particularly unexplored. In the present study, the expression of the TrkB neurotrophin receptor in murine spleen was addressed at the mRNA (reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction) and protein (Western blot) levels. Once the presence of TrkB at both levels was demonstrated, the age-dependent changes in the pattern of expression of the receptor were analyzed and quantified, and TrkB-positive cells were identified by immunohistochemistry. TrkB-immunoreactive cells, identified as red pulp macrophages, were detected in the spleen throughout postnatal development and adult life; their numbers peaked at the age of 15 days. The absence of functional TrkB did not appear to result in morphological changes as assessed by light and electron microscopy of spleens from 15-day-old mice knockout for the trkB gene. The present results support the idea that, in the murine spleen, TrkB and its ligands are involved in macrophage physiology in a developmentally regulated fashion, but they do not seem to be essential for macrophage survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current problem related to the supply of drinking water for the metropolitan area of Monterrey, which comprises of five million inhabitants, and the important role played by the El Cuchillo Dam, found downstream of the Santa Catarina River basin as a surface source of drinking water for the city, renders this river an interesting site for assessment. This work evaluates the degree to which the surface water and the subsoil of the river are affected by emerging organic pollutants due to their existence, even at low concentrations, representing a toxic risk enhanced by the absence of stricter standards for regulating these substances. Based on fieldwork, three discharge points that could affect the quality of the surface water were selected: two points on the river stream, and three groundwater wells. Gas chromatography results showed the presence of BisPhenol A (BPA) and bis(2-EthylHexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) in both the surface water and subsoil at different seasons of the year. The highest concentration levels in the samples taken from both types of water were 0.9 and 60 μg L−1 for BPA and DEHP, respectively. Results of this research did not reveal the level at which the aquifer is affected by these substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes an emergency room case of a man suffering from intense left upper quadrant abdominal pain, which was diagnosed to be the result of a hypodense lesion compatible with splenic infarction.